The Astoria Arts and Movement Center (AAMC), which started two years ago in January, had been sharing space with other groups at the First Presbyterian Church and, with no dedicated dance space, was feeling kind of cramped.

Then the AAMC, along with its adjoined I Heart Performing Arts Academy, moved into the second floor of the Odd Fellows Building at 342 10th St. in October, lending its operations a grandiose hall dedicated to its growing cooperative of instructors.

The Astoria School of Ballet previously occupied the second floor of the building, leaving in late September and moving to 1270 Duane St.

You have a feeling about things, said Jessamyn West, co-director of the AAMC with Dwight Caswell. I know this was the move wed been looking for.

There are technically two entities now occupying the space: The AAMC and the academy. The center, a cooperative of community instructors, includes kenpo karate, kung fu, dance fitness, ballet, painting, drawing, drumming and Egyptian cabaret belly dancing classes. The academy, meanwhile, focuses on teaching dance to girls between the ages of 10 and 18.

I kind of see I Heart as the branch that caters to teenage preprofessional, said Trixie Gunn, director of the academy. The academy, which teaches ballet, jazz and tap, is starting a junior dance program for girls between the ages of 3 and 10, along with lessons in guitar, musical theater, acting, singing and classical piano.

Gunn said that she recently had a dream about the space in the Odd Fellows building, after having been in it seven years ago.

When youre ready, youre ready, said Gunn, adding that the new space had the sense of being the dedicated home for their performing arts programs. Things just fell into place.

When we started (AAMC), I just started calling people, said West about the growth of the center, which now includes nine instructors and more than 100 students. Its always pretty much been by word-of-mouth.

We probably have 20 different classes. We really do want it to be an inclusive community space.

West added that the AAMC, which averages anywhere between five and 25 students per class, is always open to inquiries for starting new courses.

For more information on the AAMC, visit www.astoriaartsandmovement.com. For more information on I Heart Performing Arts Academy, visit iheartperformingartsacademy.vpweb.com

Odd Fellows Building

The AAMC and I Heart Performing Arts Academy occupy the second-floor hall and side rooms AAMC and I Heart Academy occupy total approximately 3,800 square feet of the 1924 Victorian-style lodge constructed for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization that originated in 17th-century England. The building is owned by Luottamus Partners LLC, headed by Mitch Mitchum and Rose Marie Paavola.

Below the academy is the Downtown Coffee Shop, Cold Water Surf Shop and an antiques store above is the Yoga Namaste studio.

The Odd Fellows came to Astoria in the 1880s and constructed a large gothic Victorian lodge at the corner of Commercial and 10th streets, a building that was destroyed in the fire of 1922. In 1924, it was replaced with the current lodge on the same site.

Although the newer lodge is toned down in its Victorian overtones, it still incorporates design elements of the original, including large arched windows, string courses, dental detail and key stones. It was designed by Charles T. Diamond, who is known for several postfire buildings in Astoria.

In the basement of the lodge was the Order of Odd Fellows. The second-floor hall was used before by the Order of Vikings, Woodmen of the World, Sons of Norway, Sons of Hermann and others. The AAMC and I Heart Performing Arts Academy have at least a one-year lease in the building